The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1887-08-18
HORSES.

There is no doubt that WATERING
horses at improper times often causes
serious gastric arrangements. Not.
withstanding what we have heretofore
said against the vicious practice Of
giving farm horses full drafts of water
Immediately after feeding, too many
persons persist in the practice. The
owners of driving and racing horses
do not make this mistake. The result
is, much of the food swallowed is
washed out of the stomach undigested,
and often carried far. into the region
beyond the stomach. Hence the food
is not only undigestel, but it is a pro-
nounced source of irritation. No
horse should be allowed to take large
draft of water an hour after eating in
fact, he will not do SO if he be allowed
to drink what he wants before eating.
Many persons suppose it is wrong to
allow ajhorse to drink largely Of water
before eating. 1t is not true in view
of the fact that neither man nor animal
should ever get so thirsty as to drink
'inordinately. But the taking of aeon
siderable quantity Of water on an
empty stomach in the morning, is not
necessarily inimical to health. The
stomach being empty, and filled with
water, it does not remain there, but
largely passes into the cacum (blind
gut), and thence is absorbed into the
system.
If water be withheld from necessity,
the animal economy is called on, and
delivers up the moisture of the mus,
,cular system and of the viscera. When
it again becomes possible to give
water it is drank largely and thus is
absorbed, and the several parts again
resume their natural proportions.
During hot nights the body often be-
comes dry, and hence large quantities
of water will sometimes be taken in
the morning. But, when an animal is
very thirsty, it will take more than is
necessary. In this case do not allow
drinking to full satisfaction. With
hold what should not be taken at the
first draft, and at the end of twenty
minutes after water again. In a ma
jority of instances only enough will be
taken to fairly wet the mouth and
throat.
After the horse has eaten, water may
be offered. In this case no more Will
be taken than may be necessary to
fairly moisten the food-often none.
The rational practice is to offer the
horse water at every opportunity In
hot weather and when on a journey
to give water in cold weather at least
once between meals. In hot weather
the horse should be allowed to drink
lightly at every opportunity, but II
heated, water should not be given un'
less a mile or two of exercise is to De
taken thereafter.
Another thing to be observed in the
watering of horses is this fact Inc
horse Graves pure water, and prefer.
ably, cold. Cattle seem inclined 10
drink water not cold, and seem noI
averse to pond water, yet no anlmai
should be allowed to drink from stag
nant pools, especially horses and mllch
cows. In winter no farm anlma1
should be compelled to drink lce-cola
water. In the more complete stables
water is kept before horses at all times;
slowly filing gallon vessel is placed
in the manager with a waste pipe az
tached near the top. To this the morse
will turn when thirsty, drinking slowly,
and often while feeding he will mols'et
his mouth to assist the m~astlcatlon =
dry food. This provided, there Is ~
doubt but dry food is better tfan we'
food for the working horse.-f@'"'
Field and &ocknGa.